Nonconductive Modular Barrier Assemblies

ABSTRACT

As described herein the invention includes a nonconductive barrier that has a first undulating panel and a second undulating panel each having an undulation profile, and each having a first vertical edge, a second vertical edge and a back surface, and at least one, preferably two, stabilizing members that extend from the back surface of the undulating panel. The first vertical edge of the second panel is capable of engaging with the second vertical edge of the first panel to form a nonconductive barrier. Each of the panels and member(s) independently comprises a nonconductive material. In an embodiment, the first vertical edge of the second panel includes a groove extending downwardly along the vertical edge from a top of the second panel to a bottom of the second panel. The groove is defined by a first loop and a second loop, each of which extends from the first vertical edge, the groove terminating in a groove aperture. The second vertical edge of the first panel terminated in a tongue member, wherein the tongue member is configured to be slidably insertable into the groove via the aperture. Also include are related methods and enclosures that employ and/or are formed by the barrier assemblies of the invention.

CROSS REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

This application claims the benefit of priority under 25 U.S.C. 119(e) from prior filed U.S. Patent Application Ser. No. 62/879,835, filed Jul. 29, 2019, the contents of which are incorporated herein by reference.

BACKGROUND OF INVENTION

Animals are the second highest cause of power outages in the United States and Canada. Animals like to climb on substation equipment for various reasons; the warmth of the equipment on cold days, to sun themselves on hot days, to go after nests made in tower structures looking for food, or simply to eat their pry from a higher elevation. This desire on the part of the animal to interact with substation equipment causes power outages. Depending on the age of the equipment or the point of contact by the animal power can be out for minutes or days. Either way power outages caused by animals is a very real and annoying problem. Not all equipment in a substation is susceptible to animal contact—mostly what is referred to as low voltage equipment generally damaged by animal contact. That is not to say high voltage doesn't have a problem it is just that most animals burn away on a high voltage contact where a low voltage contact can linger for minutes causing more damage. If a substation is large in physical area—meaning there is thousands instead of hundreds of linear feet of fence than the cost of a perimeter fence system may be cost prohibitive—and having a solution that is made to go inside the perimeter fence, specifically around the specific equipment susceptible to animals is of great value to utilities. Especially cost-conscious municipalities and cooperative utilities compared to large investor owned utilities.

There exists a need in the art for a barrier assembly that is an affordable and effective solution to animal caused outages and, if desired, which can be used to protect solely the most vulnerable equipment, as opposed to trying to fence an entire substation.

BRIEF SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

As described herein the invention includes a nonconductive barrier that has a first undulating panel and a second undulating panel each having an undulation profile, and each having a first vertical edge, a second vertical edge and a back surface, and at least one, preferably two, stabilizing members that extend from the back surface of the undulating panel. The first vertical edge of the second panel is capable of engaging with the second vertical edge of the first panel to form a nonconductive barrier. Each of the panels and member(s) independently comprises a nonconductive material. In an embodiment, the first vertical edge of the second panel includes a groove extending downwardly along the vertical edge from a top of the second panel to a bottom of the second panel. The groove is defined by a first loop and a second loop, each of which extends from the first vertical edge, the groove terminating in a groove aperture. The second vertical edge of the first panel terminated in a tongue member, wherein the tongue member is configured to be slidably insertable into the groove via the aperture. Also include are related methods and enclosures that employ and/or are formed by the barrier assemblies of the invention.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE SEVERAL VIEWS OF THE DRAWINGS

The foregoing summary, as well as the following detailed description of preferred embodiments of the invention, will be better understood when read in conjunction with the appended drawings. For the purpose of illustrating the invention, there is shown in the drawings embodiments which are presently preferred. It should be understood, however, that the invention is not limited to the precise arrangements and instrumentalities shown. In the drawings:

FIG. 1 is a schematic showing the dimensions of the panel of the assembly of the invention;

FIG. 2 is a plan view of panel of the assembly of the invention illustrating exemplary undulation formats;

FIG. 3 shows several panels stacked one upon the other;

FIG. 4 is a detail of the vertical edges of panels of the assembly showing their engagement where one edge bears a groove defined by a C-shaped portion the panel and the other edge bears a tongue that is slidably insertable into the groove;

FIG. 5 shows a detail of a bottom portion of a barrier;

FIG. 6 shows a back view of a panel which further includes two spaced apart stabilizing members;

FIG. 7 is a perspective view of the panel of FIG. 6;

FIGS. 8 and 9 are alternative view of the panel of FIG. 6;

FIG. 10 shows a connecter to form a 90 degree corner, and a top view of two barriers attached via such connecter;

FIG. 11 shows a connecter to form a 45 degree corner, and a top view of two barriers attached via such connecter;

FIG. 12 shows a connecter to form an alternative 90 degree corner, and a top view of two barriers attached via such connecter;

FIG. 13 shows a connecter to form an alternative 45 degree corner, and a top view of two barriers attached via such connecter;

FIG. 14 shows a magnified version of the connection of FIG. 10;

FIG. 15 shows a magnified version of the connection of FIG. 11;

FIG. 16 shows a magnified version of a 3-way connector that connect 3 panels, 3 stabilizing members or a combination of the same in plan view. As shown, the connector connects a first panel (“A panel”), a second panel (“B panel”) and a stabilizer (“Outrigger”); and

FIG. 17 shows the shape of an exemplary connector for use in forming the barrier assemblies of the invention.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

The invention as described herein includes a nonconductive barrier assembly, methods of using it and installing it, as well as enclosures that one may form with it. The barrier has the advantage of being modular in form and does not require use of tradition fence posts or supports, so it can be quickly installed in any area, and its length may be adjusted as needed, even after installation with a minimum of effort and in a short space of time. Additionally, by virtue of the barrier assembly's modularity, they are stackable, allowing for convenient storage and transport.

The barrier assembly described herein is, in an embodiment, substantially nonconductive and may be built out of nonconductive materials.

As used herein, the term “nonconductive” indicates that a material or component has little to no electrical conductivity. Electrical conductivity is the measure of a material's ability to conduct an electric current (Helmenstine, 2018). Substations typically use more conductive metals such as Copper (electrical conductivity of 5.96×107 S/m) and Aluminum (electrical conductivity of 3.5×107 S/m) in their substation designs to aid in the flow and distribution of electrical current (Helmenstine, 2018). In comparison, 316 Stainless Steel (that has an electrical conductivity of 1.45×107 S/m), is approximately 24.5 times less conductive than aluminum and 41.1 times less conductive than copper. With a much lower electrical conductivity, stainless steel makes a suitable metal to use for small hardware applications in the non-conductive barrier modular assembly. The assembly may utilize fiberglass panels, rods, and hardware which has negligible electrical conductivity, usually less than 1×10-14 S/m. Fiberglass makes an excellent insulator that doesn't allow electrical current to flow freely through the material, thus giving it the ability of having nonconductive properties.

While the nonconductive systems and the related barriers described herein are described as being particularly useful for enclosing an area containing a substation or other energized equipment, it is understood that this environment is not intended to be limiting and the nonconductive systems and the related barriers of the present invention can be used to enclose or partition any parcel of land, and can be used independently of mobile substations and electrical equipment.

Any reference herein to a “support surface” refers to a surface on which the barrier is installed. Support surfaces may include any indoor or outdoor surfaces, such as the ground, whether dirt, rock, grass, sand, concrete, macadam, or stone, among others.

The present application in some embodiments will be described using words such as “upper” and “lower,” “inner” and “outer,” “right” and “left,” “interior” and “exterior,” and the like. These words and words of similar directional import are used for assisting in the understanding of the invention when referring to the drawings or another component of the invention and, absent a specific definition or meaning otherwise given by the specification, such terms should not be considered limiting to the scope of the invention.

The barrier assembly 99 of the invention include at least two panels 100. With reference to FIG. 1, each panel has a length/x dimension 104, a vertical/y dimension 105, and a width/z dimension 106 along the top and bottom, and a width/z dimension along a panel's sides. When installed, the panel is oriented so that the length dimension is in a plane substantially parallel with the support substrate, e.g., the ground, making it a top edge or a bottom edge. As used herein, the width/z dimension is a measurement of the material that forms the panel and does not induce the volume added to the width/z dimension by the panel's undulations.

The panels each have an undulation profile 102, which, as used herein is the geometry or shape of the undulation as viewed from above when installed (plan view when installed). In an embodiment, the undulations are in the vertical direction, that is, they span the panel from its top edge to its bottom edge. Preferred may be undulations of a C-format, a V-format and a flattened-V format, as shown in FIG. 2. See also, FIG. 3, showing a series of stacked panels so that the top end 110 of each panel is seen, each showing an undulation profile 102 that is a shallow V-format.

It may be preferred that each panel has about 1 to about 8 undulations, depending on the length of the panel. Preferably, each undulation is equidistantly spaced apart from the other, although this is not necessary. Preferred spacing may be any, for example, about every 1, 2, or 3 feet of panel.

The panel or panels may be any size or shape. In general, it may be preferred that the panels have a: (i) length/x dimension of about 5 feet to about 100 feet or of about 15 feet to about 75 feet; (ii) a height/y dimension of about 4 to about 30 feet or about 10 to about 20 feet; and (iii) a width/x dimension of about 1 inch to about 8 inches or of about 4 inches to about 6 inches, both x¹ and x² included.

The panels may be hollow or solid; in an embodiment they are coated with a fireproofing material, UV absorbing polymer or other substance to further enhance weather resistance, appearance, or another desirable property.

The panels of the assembly are adapted to be engageable with one another along their vertical edges to form the barrier. The means or mechanism of engagement may take any form—the panels may be self-engaging (that is, require no additional elements to form a connection) such as are shown, e.g., in FIG. 3 (showing the vertical edges with a female groove, and a corresponding tongue member). Alternatively, one may use one or more types of connectors, such as for example, reciprocal tracks, tabs and corresponding hole, slidable bolts and corresponding bolts holes, tongue-and groove arrangements and variations of the same.

Referencing FIGS. 3 and 4, in some embodiments a first vertical edge of the second panel includes a groove 116 that extends downwardly along the first vertical edge, from top to bottom. Correspondingly, the second vertical edge 114 includes a tongue member 118 that is sized to fit within the corresponding groove 116. The groove 116 in this embodiment is defined by a “C” shape in the panel—i.e., defined by a first loop 126 and a second loop 128, each having a terminal end 130 and 132. The loops are spaced apart by a space S sufficiently sized to accommodate the z dimension of the panel when a tongue member 118 is in the groove 116. The groove 116 itself terminates in an aperture 134. The tongue member is configured so that it can be slidably inserted in the groove 116 via the aperture and drawn down through the entire length of the groove 116.

The barrier assembly 99 is composed of at least two or a plurality of panels; such number will vary depending on the size of the panels, and the size of the barrier formed. The panels may present a solid surface; some, however, may include slots, vents, perforations or other holes or apertures, for example, to permit such things as mail, cables, pipes, light, wind, or water to pass through the barrier if desired. See, FIG. 5, showing a panel having about a 3 inch×3 inch portion as a perforated, not solid surface, to permit water drainage.

Optionally, the panels of the assembly may include at least one, preferably two or more, stabilizing members. Referencing FIGS. 6 to 9, such members extend outwardly from the back surface of the panel. In an embodiment, the stabilizer members extend outwardly about 1 foot to about 5 feet, or about 2 feet to about 3 feet. In an embodiment, the stabilizing members are located at the lower half, preferably the lower ¼^(th) or ⅛^(th) of the panel.

The stabilizing members may include two or more elements, where the first element extends from the back surface of the panel to a distal end, a second element that second member extending from the first element's distal end to a distal end, and a third element that extends from the second element's distal end. An angle formed between the first element and the second element and/or the second element and the third element is less than about 180 degrees or less than about 120 degrees.

In some embodiment, the stabilizing members have the same structure of the barrier panels to which they are attached, e.g., they include one or more undulation profile. In various embodiments, the terminal edge of the stabilizing member(s) may be configured to engage with one or more vertical edges of the panel(s) to form a connection. In some embodiments such connection is accomplished by use of connectors.

In a favored embodiment, the stabilizing members are attached to the barrier at the join of the panels. See, e.g., FIGS. 6-9 (showing two stabilizing members, each having a vertically dimension of about 30% to about 50% of the vertically dimension of the panel to which it is attached, and each being connected to the barrier assembly 99 at the join of the vertical edges of the panels). Such attachment may be accomplished using various, such as for example, reciprocal tracks, tabs and corresponding hole, slidable bolts and corresponding bolts holes, tongue-and groove arrangements and variations of the same. An alternative option is further described below.

When installing the barrier assembly on a support surface, one may wholly or partially bury the stabilizing members or otherwise anchor them through use of counterweights, such as, for example, water filled containers, sandbags, driven anchors attached to cables and turnbuckles to adjust slack in cable. In some embodiments, the stabilizing members are attached to concrete footers using bolted plates which reside on the support surface.

In a favored embodiment, the panels are connected to each other by geometric connectors to allow for custom configuration of the panels relative to one another, that is, use do of the geometric connecters as described herein allows for each installation of the panels at 20 degrees to 90 degrees relative to one another merely by a simple modification of the geometry of the geometric connector.

Examples of this are shown in FIGS. 10 to 16. As shown therein, in this embodiment, the first panel 100 a and the second panel 100 b of the barrier assembly 99 of the invention each include a first vertical edge 112 a, 112 b and a second vertical edge 114 a, 114 b. The vertical edges 112 a and 112 b each include groove 116 a and 116 b that extends downwardly along the first vertical edge 112 a and 112 b, from top to bottom; the grooves 116 a and 116 b each terminate in an aperture 134 a and 134 b. Correspondingly, the second vertical edges 114 a and 114 b of each of the panels 100 a and 100 b terminates in a includes a tongue member 118 a and 118 b, each of which is sized to fit within the corresponding groove 116 a and 116 b. The groove 116 a and 116 b in this embodiment is defined by a “C” shape in the panel—i.e., defined by a first loop 126 a and 126 b and a second loop 128 a and 128 b, each having a terminal end 130 a and 130 b and 132 a and 132 b. The loops are spaced apart by a space S sufficiently sized to accommodate the z dimension of the panel when a tongue member is in the groove.

In each of FIGS. 10 to 17, the first and second panels 100 a and 100 b are connected via a GM. The geometric connector 123 includes a body 124 that defines at least one geometric connector groove 136 and a geometric connector tongue member 138, each of which has a shape and dimension corresponding to the groove 116 and the tongue member 118 of the panels 100 a and 100 b, respectively. To connect the panels 100 a and 100 b, one slidably inserts the first panel's 100 a tongue member 114 a into the geometric connector groove 136, and the geometric connector tongue member 138 into the second panel's 100 b groove 112 b.

The relative orientation of the geometric connector groove 136 and geometric connector tongue member 138 can be adjusted on the body 124 depending on the angle at which one wishes to connect the corresponding panels 100 a and 100 b. For example, if one wishes the panels to form about a 180 degree angle between themselves, the geometric connector 124 will have its geometric connector groove 136 disposed directly opposite of its geometric connector tongue member 138 within the body 124 as shown in FIG. 17. FIGS. 10 to 17 illustrate the shapes of GMs that can be used to attach the panels of the invention at varies angle as set forth in Table 1 and the resulting connections formed between the panels. It will be appreciated that further configurations of the geometric connector can be made to permit attachment at other angles (e.g., 30 degrees, 70 degrees) and that such are encompassed within the scope of the invention.

TABLE 1 FIG. and Reference Numeral of geometric connector Angle of Attachment FIG. 10 123a 90 degree corner FIG. 11 123b 45 degree corner FIG. 12 123c 90 degree corner FIG. 13 123d 45 degree corner FIG. 17 123e 180 degrees

Additionally, in an optional embodiment, the geometric connector 124 can be used as a 3-way connecter. Such geometric connector will include a geometric connector groove 136 a and a geometric connector tongue member 183 a within the body 124 as described above, but will further include at least on additional geometric connector groove 136 b and/or a geometric connector tongue member 183 b for connection to a stabilizing members that contains a correspond groove and tongue member. Exemplary GMs are and the resulting connections when applied as described above to the panels and the stabilizing members are set forth in Table 2.

TABLE 2 Angle of FIG. and Reference Angle of Attachment of Attachment Numeral of geometric Barriers Relative to Each Stabilizer Relative connector Other to Panel FIG. 10 123f 90 degree corner 45 degrees FIG. 11 123g FIG. 12 123h 90 degree corner 45 degrees FIG. 13 123i 45 degree corner 45 degrees

It is preferred that the geometric connector(s) for use in the invention are dimensioned such that when installed as connecters, there is little to no space between each of the connected panels or stabilizers at the “join”. In other embodiments, the geometric connector may be dimensioned such that when employed as a connector the panels are spaced apart, for example, to permit the barrier assembly's installation around/among features at the site, such as existing structures, poles or trees.

It may be preferred that the GMs have a vertical dimension that is about 100% of the vertical dimension of the panel for added stability. However, in varying embodiments, the vertical dimension may be about 30% to about 90%, about 40% to about 75% of the corresponding vertical dimension of the panel(s).

Each of the component parts described herein may be composed in whole or in part of a nonconductive material, as defined above. Suitable materials will vary depending on the component buy may include, for example, polymers, plastics, rubbers, fiberglass, wood, glass, ceramics, and the like.

It will be appreciated by those skilled in the art that changes could be made to the embodiments described above without departing from the broad inventive concept thereof. It is understood, therefore, that this invention is not limited to the particular embodiments disclosed, but it is intended to cover modifications within the spirit and scope of the present invention as defined by the appended claims. 

What is claimed is:
 1. A nonconductive barrier comprising a. An first undulating panel and a second undulating panel each having an undulation profile, and each having a first vertical edge, a second vertical edge and a back surface; b. At least one stabilizing member extending from the back surface of the undulating panel, wherein the first vertical edge of the second panel is capable of engaging with the second vertical edge of the first panel to form a nonconductive barrier and wherein each of the panels and member(s) independently comprises a nonconductive material.
 2. The nonconductive barrier of claim 1 wherein each of the panels and member(s) is nonconductive.
 3. The nonconductive barrier of claim 1, wherein a. the first vertical edge of the second panel includes a groove extending downwardly along the vertical edge from a top of the second panel to a bottom of the second panel, the groove defined by a first loop and a second loop, each of which extends from the first vertical edge, the groove terminating in a groove aperture; b. the second vertical edge of the first panel terminated in a tongue member, wherein the tongue member is configured to be slidably insertable into the groove via the aperture.
 4. The nonconductive barrier of claim 1 wherein each panel further comprises at least two spaced apart stabilizing members.
 5. The nonconductive barrier of claim 1 wherein the stabilizer member comprises a first element that extends from a back surface of the undulating panel terminating in a distal end and a second member extending from the distal end, wherein an angle formed between the first element and the second element is less than about 180 degrees.
 6. The nonconductive barrier of claim 1 wherein the stabilizer member comprises a first element that extends from a back surface of the undulating panel terminating in a distal end and a second member extending from the distal end, wherein an angle formed between the first element and the second element is less than about 120 degrees.
 7. The nonconductive barrier of claim 5, wherein the stabilizing member further includes a third element that extends from a distal end of the second element, wherein an angle formed between the second element and the third element is less than about 180 degrees.
 8. The nonconductive barrier of claim 6, wherein the stabilizing member further includes a third element that extends from a distal end of the second element, wherein an angle formed between the second element and the third element is less than about 120 degrees.
 9. The nonconductive barrier of claim 1 wherein each panel independently has an undulation profile selected from profiles having 1, 2, 3, 4, and 5 undulations.
 10. The nonconductive barrier of claim 1 wherein each panel independently has an undulation profile selected from profiles having a C-format, a V-format, and a flattened-V format.
 11. The nonconductive barrier of claim 1 wherein the panel independently has a length/x dimension of about 5 feet to about 100 feet.
 12. The nonconductive barrier of claim 1 wherein the panel independently has a length/x dimension of about 15 feet to about 75 feet.
 13. The nonconductive barrier of claim 1 wherein the panel independently has a vertical/y dimension of about 4 to about 30 feet.
 14. The nonconductive barrier of claim 1 wherein the panel independently has a height/y dimension of about 10 to about 20 feet.
 15. The nonconductive barrier of claim 1 wherein the panel independently has a width/x dimension of about 1 inch to about 8 inches.
 16. The nonconductive barrier of claim 1 wherein the panel independently has a width/x dimension of about 4 inches to about 6 inches.
 17. The barrier assembly of claim 1 wherein the material is selected from fiberglass, a polymer, glass, asphalt, rubber, and plastic.
 18. An enclosure comprising the barrier assemblies of claim 1, wherein a first vertical edge of the first barrier assembly is attached to a second vertical edge of a second barrier assembly. 